Vacherot Turns To Fans To Engineer Dramatic Comeback

With his much-anticipated homecoming rapidly going down in flames against Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Valentin Vacherot turned to a refuge of last resort: the fans.

Down a set and a break and staring at another break point, the Monegasque native threw his arms in the air after grinding out an all-court point that kept him alive, drawing a massive roar from the crowd.

As if discovering a dormant advantage, Vacherot raised his arms twice more after winning the next two points from deuce to close out the game. It was the start of an 11-game surge that underpinned his 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win as fans – including cousin Arthur Rinderknech – cheered him loudly all the way to the finish line.

“I wouldn’t have won this match if it wasn’t in Monaco with you,” he told the crowd during his on-court interview. “I really struggled, it wasn’t very pretty. I gave everything I had. And then suddenly everything clicked when I saved that double-break point in the second set. After that I found my freedom. So really, thank you — and I’m going to need you again…”

He next meets 2025 finalist Lorenzo Musetti.

Ranked No. 256 this time last year, Vacherot needed a wild card to compete at his home event in 2025. But after his stunning run from qualifying to the title at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in October, Vacherot has been playing like the Top 30 player he now is.

Standing close to the baseline against Cerundolo, Vacherot dictated play in the final two sets against the crafty left-hander despite the slower conditions in the cool, heavy evening conditions.

Vacherot consistently applied pressure to Cerundolo’s modest serve, earning 18 break points and converting six.

Photo: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour